Uttarakhand CM Dhami felicitates 12 individuals & institutions with SDG Achiever Awards

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honored three individuals, nine institutions, and four industrial establishments with the SDG Achiever Award at a ceremony held at Mukhya Sevak Sadan in Dehradun.

He also launched the book Agragami 2.0, which highlights the innovative initiatives of last year’s SDG Award recipients, along with the SDG Index Uttarakhand 2023-2024.

In the district-wise SDG ranking released by CPPGG for 2023-24, Nainital secured the top position, followed by Dehradun in second and Uttarkashi in third. The Chief Development Officers (CDOs) of these districts were recognized by the Chief Minister for their contributions.

Congratulating the award recipients, he praised their innovative and outstanding work in various fields, emphasizing that over the past three years, the government has honored 60 NGOs, individuals, and CSR contributors with the SDG Achievers Award, calling them the "real brand ambassadors of the state's development."

Highlighting the government's commitment to achieving sustainable development goals by 2030, he stated that a "three-pillar and nine-point policy" has been introduced to balance the economy and ecology, marking a significant step toward sustainability. He noted that Uttarakhand, which ranked 9th in the SDG India Index three years ago, now holds the top position. The state has made remarkable progress in poverty alleviation, food security, drinking water and sanitation, sex ratio at birth, clean energy, urban development, financial inclusion, and climate change, he added.

He further mentioned that the government is strengthening these sectors through initiatives like the Chief Minister Women Entrepreneurship Promotion Scheme, Solar Energy Revolution, Smart City Mission, and Chief Minister Urban Livelihood Scheme. However, challenges remain in areas such as climate change, disaster management, healthcare access, sustainable agriculture, and water resource management, where focused efforts are needed.

He acknowledged that maintaining the top ranking in SDG implementation is a challenge that requires collective efforts. Stressing the importance of the right policies, he stated, “If the government's policy is right, it fills the treasury.”

Over the last three years, efforts to simplify policies and increase revenue collection have led to significant improvements, with mining revenue rising from ₹400 crore to ₹1,200 crore, alongside growth in other revenue sectors.